Per Gabriele Marcotti of ESPNFC.com, United full-back Patrice Evra made his feelings known about United's present form in remarkably blunt fashion: "We didn't show enough of Manchester United the way we played. We didn't deserve more than a draw."

As though United need any more distractions, Nani's status again seems to be in flux.

Watch this space for fresh updates all this week as we track the latest rumours surrounding the Portuguese winger with the January transfer window getting ever nearer.

The Italian champions are preparing a loan offer for the 27-year-old but Goal understands that the Red Devils are unwilling to let the Portugal international leave on a temporary basis. The Turin outfit are willing to match the player's United salary of £95,000 (€114,000) a week until the end of the season and secure an option to make the transfer permanent in June.

You have to hand it to Juventus. If they cannot talk United into selling them the player they want, maybe they can at least borrow him for a while.

Besides, if Juventus can get Nani out of Old Trafford, maybe United will miss him less than United fear they will.

And then if Nani beds in at Juventus, a deal may be much easier to make down the line than it is now.

At just 21 the strong, robust midfielder is exactly what United are lacking at present. Nominally a defensive midfielder Carvalho has a good short and long passing game and unlike most of the current United midfield contingent he is good in the air.

Wasn't Marouane Fellaini supposed to have a solid passing game and be good in the air? Never mind.

How do United intend to convince Carvalho to come to Old Trafford? Perhaps with some assistance from Nani, who "may see his importance grow as United will look to use him for his Portuguese connection" to entice Carvalho.

Of course there is the small matter of Carvalho's reported £35 million release clause as well as possible competition from Chelsea and Juventus to deal with.

Left unanswered is whether Nani's possible assistance in courting Carvalho will ingratiate him at United or leave him in flux.

Nani Perhaps Not Helping Matters with His Recent Comments

Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesMaybe teams are confident at Old Trafford because Nani keeps sitting down on the job.

Nani did not do Manchester United—or his manager David Moyes—any favors with some stray observations he recently offered.

"It looks like teams are more confident when they come here to play against us," said Nani according to Sky Sports.

Having dug a tablespoon-sized hole for himself, Nani tried to patch it but instead ended up creating a shovel-sized hole with his elaboration on the elan United's opponents are exhibiting at Old Trafford:

But I'm sure we will change that because, at the moment, we are playing without all our confidence.

I think once results start coming we will show who the real Manchester United are and will do much better.

Right. So the problem is not a fluky phenomenon where a rogue result or two embolden future opponents to ride the same luck. No, sir. According to Nani, United lack confidence.

Even if he is right, Nani might have quit while he was ahead and said nothing.

A Few Words About How We Got Here

As recently as September of this year, the idea that Nani would leave Manchester United was a non-starter.

Per a Jamie Sanderson report in Metro, "Luis Nani has put an end to speculation over his future by signing a new long-term contract at Manchester United."

Sanderson even went so far as to confirm the actual physical act: "And speaking after putting pen to paper, Nani admitted he couldn’t be happier to be staying at Old Trafford. ‘Playing at United has been a fantastic experience for me,’ he said."